Indian hawthorn plant named ‘Fiesta’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Rhaphiolepis  named ‘FIESTA’ that is characterized by evergreen foliage which is marginally variegated cream-white and green, and whose flowers are light pink in bud, opening to white. In combination, these characteristics distinguish ‘FIESTA’ from all other varieties of  Rhaphiolepis  known to the inventor.

Genus: Rhaphiolepis.

Species: indica.

Denomination: ‘FIESTA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of IndianHawthorn, or Rhaphiolepis plant which is grown as an ornamentalevergreen shrub for use in the garden and landscape. The new cultivar isknown botanically as Rhaphiolepis indica and will be referred tohereinafter by the cultivar name ‘FIESTA’.

‘FIESTA’ was discovered by the inventor in a cultivated private gardenin Waxhaw, N.C. in 2002. The inventor discovered ‘FIESTA’ as a naturallyoccurring variegated branch sport which was growing on a singlenon-variegated plant of Rhaphiolepis indica. It is not known whetherthis single plant is a named cultivar of Rhaphiolepis, or whether it hadbeen grown from seed. In 2002, the inventor excised the variegatedbranch and made semi-hardwood cuttings in order to establish the newvariety on its own roots. By 2003, the inventor had determined that thevariegated characteristics were being maintained on the newlyestablished plants. Since that time, following further successive cyclesof asexual reproduction using semi- hardwood cuttings, the inventor hasconcluded that ‘FIESTA’ is stable and reproduces true to type.

There are no cultivars of variegated Indian HAWTHORN known to theinventor, and the closest comparison plants are all non-variegated. Thus‘FIESTA’ is clearly distinguishable from its parent and from allcultivars of Rhaphiolepis Known to the Inventor by virtue of itspronounced and distinctive cream-white variegated foliage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The distinguishing characteristics of ‘FIESTA’ are as follows: Incombination these traits set ‘FIESTA’ apart from all other existingvarieties of Rhaphiolepis indica known to the inventor. ‘FIESTA’ has notbeen tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences maybe observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions.

-   -   1. ‘FIESTA’ is evergreen.    -   2. The foliage of ‘FIESTA’ is marginally variegated cream-white        and green.    -   3. Each leaf of ‘FIESTA’ exhibits a broad cream-white margin,        including the apex.    -   4. Each leaf of ‘FIESTA’ exhibits a central patch of mid green        which does not extend to any margin.    -   5. The flowers of ‘FIESTA’ are light pink in bud opening to        white in color.    -   6. ‘FIESTA’ blooms from early to mid-spring.    -   7. A two year old plant of ‘FIESTA’ is approximately 35cm in        height and 75 cm in width.    -   8. ‘FIESTA’ is hardy to USDA Zone 7.    -   9. ‘FIESTA’ requires sun to partial shade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of‘FIESTA’ showing the colors of its foliage and flowers as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 depicts a single plant of ‘FIESTA’ infoliage in May. The illustrated plant is three years old and has beenplanted in a 2 gallon container and grown out of doors in Raleigh, N.C.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the foliage of‘FIESTA’. Both drawings were made using conventional techniques andalthough the colors of and within the variegated foliage may appeardifferent from actual color due to light reflectance, their color is asaccurate as possible by conventional photography.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of ‘FIESTA’. Unlessotherwise stated herein, observations, measurements, values andcomparisons were compiled from a two year old plant grown out of doorsin Colfax, N.C. Color determinations are made in accordance with The2001 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart from London, England,except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance areused. Growing conditions are similar to the species.

-   Botanical classification:    -   -   Genus.—Rhaphiolepis.        -   Species.—indica.        -   Cultivar name.—‘Fiesta’.-   Propagation and growing information:    -   -   Means of propagation.—Semi-hardwood stem cuttings.        -   Rooting habit.—Dense and highly branched, fibrous root            system.        -   Time to develop roots.—3 to 4 weeks.        -   Crop time to a finished container.—1 year to 2 years.        -   Typical size of finished saleable container.—1 gallon            container to 3 gallon container.        -   Plant habit.—Mounding broadleaf evergreen shrub.        -   Use of plant.—Landscape evergreen shrub.        -   Growth rate.—Approximately 30 cm per year per branch, or            faster in ideal conditions.        -   Height of plant.—35 cm at 2 years.        -   Width of plant.—75 cm at 2 years.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Cold Hardiness zone 7b (0 to 5 degrees F.).        -   Flowering season.—Spring.-   Branching:    -   -   Branching habit.—Sympodial.-   Stem:    -   -   Stem color.—199B.        -   Stem shape.—Terete.        -   Stem width.—3 to 4 mm.        -   Stem surface.—Glabrous.        -   Pubescence.—mostly absent; occasional very short pilose            hairs.        -   Stem length (main stems).—75 to 160 mm.        -   Stem length (secondary stems).—40 to 70 mm.        -   Internode length.—12 to 25 mm.        -   Twig color—146C.        -   Twig shape.—Terete.        -   Twig width.—2 to 3 mm.        -   Twig surface.—Pubescent.        -   Twig pubescence.—Hairs densely packed, long floccose,            tawny-white in color.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate to subopposite, occasionally in            pseudo-whorls.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic to oblanceolate, sometimes ovate.        -   Leaf length (blade only).—30 to 60 mm.        -   Leaf width.—12 to 35 mm.        -   Leaf tip.—Acute to submucronate.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate to attenuate.        -   Quantity of leaves per stem.—6 to 8.        -   Leaf venation pattern.—Reticulate.        -   Vein color (adaxial surface).—191B.        -   Vein color (abaxial surface).—153A.        -   Margin type.—Serrate, sometimes sparsely so.        -   Leaf surface (adaxial).—Glabrous, waxy, with few floccose            hairs on midrib.        -   Leaf surface (abaxial).—Glabrous, with short pilose hairs on            midrib and secondary veins.        -   Leaf color in spring, fully mature leaves (adaxial).—Mottled            138A, 138B, 139A, 139B, 191B, 191A are all individually            present; variegation colored 158A.        -   Leaf color in spring, fully mature leaves (abaxial).—138B.        -   Leaf color in spring, newly flushing leaves (adaxial).—As            fully mature, as above, except with 163A colored overlay,            this color contributed by presence of densely packed, but            caducous, tomentose hairs.        -   Leaf color in spring, newly flushing leaves (abaxial).—As            adaxial above.        -   Leaf color in winter (adaxial).—As fully mature leaves in            spring as above, except strongly tinged 63A to 59C.        -   Leaf color in winter (abaxial).—As fully mature leaves in            spring.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole length.—5 to 20 mm.        -   Petiole diameter.—2 to 3 mm.        -   Petiole color.—138B.        -   Petiole surface.—Pubescent (young leaves) to subglabrous            (mature leaves).        -   Pubescence (where present).—Short pilose hairs.-   Foliage variegation:    -   -   Location on leaf.—Marginal.        -   Description of variegation.—Variegation typically comprises            ⅛ to ¼ of leaf, although in some leaves up to ½ of the blade            is variegated; streaks of variegation are unevenly overlaid            on leaves, creating a mottled look; some leaves bear            variegated sectors extending away from the margin nearly to            the midrib, but most leaves do not have these sectors.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence form.—Paniculate.        -   Flower arrangement.—Terminal.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—9 to 20.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—50 or more when plant            is 2 years of age.        -   Time and duration of flowering.—3 to 4 weeks.-   Bracts:    -   -   Persistence.—Caduceus.        -   Bract length.—4 to 8 mm.        -   Bract width.—1 mm or less.        -   Bract color.—153B, tinged apically 59A.        -   Bract shape.—Linear.-   Flower:    -   -   Pedicels and peduncles.—Pedicel length: 5 to 10 mm. Pedicel            width: 1 to 2 mm. Peduncle length: 50 to 60 mm. Peduncle            width: 1 to 2 mm. Pedicel and peduncle shape: terete.            Pedicel and peduncle color: 146C. Pedicel and peduncle            surface: tomentose, hairs tawny.        -   Flower bud.—Bud shape: elliptoid. Bud color: enclosed by            sepals colors, 146C in color. Bud surface: see Calyx surface            below. Bud diameter: 5 mm. Bud length: 3 mm.        -   Open Flowers.—Diameter of flower (including calyx, corolla,            petals): 25 to 30 mm. Height or depth of flower (base of            hypanthium to anthers): 10 mm.        -   Calyx.—Calyx lobe shape: acuminate. Calyx lobe length: 3 to            5 mm. Calyx lobe width: less than 1 mm. Calyx color (outer            surface): 146C , tinged 59A apically. Calyx color (inner            surface): 146C. Calyx surface (outer and inner surfaces):            pubescent, pilose-tomentose; ciliate on margins; hairs            tawny-brown in color except at apex of hypanthium where are            colored 59A.        -   Sepals.—Sepals: Present, fused into a single calyx; calyx            fused with the staminal filaments into a Hypanthium. Number            of sepals: 5 calyx lobes (not separated into sepals). Sepals            fused or unfused: fused.        -   Petals.—Petals fused or unfused: unfused. Petal shape:            oblanceolate, concave adaxially. Petal length: 14 to 20 mm.            Petal width: 5 to 8 mm. Petal limbs: short, comprising 3 to            4 mm of overall petal length. Number of petals: 5. Petal            color (adaxial surface): white. Petal color (abaxial            surface): 63B, fading to 62D, in bud, white afterward upon            floral unfolding. Petal surface (adaxial surface): glabrous,            ciliate on margins. Petal surface (abaxial surface):            glabrous.        -   Reproductive organs.—Number of stamens: 10 to 15. Fused or            unfused at base: fused together (along with calyx) into a            hypanthium. Filaments: Filament length: 6 to 7 mm. Filament            width: less than 1 mm. Filament color (filament): white,            changing to 61A, 61B after 24 to 48 hours; onset of            coloration concurrent with anther drying and end of pollen            release. Anthers: Anther shape: elliptic. Anther length:            1 mm. Anther width: less than 1 mm. Anther color: yellow,            turning brown at senescence. Pollen: Pollen color: yellow.            Pollen amount: little. Gynoecium: Position: set down in            hypanthial cup. Stigma: Stigma shape: round. Stigma length:            less than 1 mm. Stigma width: less than 1 mm. Stigma color:            yellow, turning brown at senescence. Styles: 2, fused at            base, forking midway toward apex, revealing 2 separate            stigmatic surfaces. Style shape: linear. Style length: 6 to            7 mm. Style width: less than 1 mm. Style color: white, aging            to 61A, 61B. Ovary: Ovary position: inferior, perigynous.            Ovary shape: elliptoid. Ovary length: 1 to 2 mm. Ovary            width: less than 1 mm. Ovary color: 191A.        -   Seed.—Seed has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rhaphiolepis plant named ‘FIESTA’ asdescribed and illustrated herein.